Hyperamylasemia in critically injured patients.

We found that in traumatic shock patients without pancreatic injury, hyperamylasemia occurs in high frequency [49 of 61 (80%)]. Isoenzyme studies of 19 of these patients revealed 18 of them (94%) to have the salivary type of hyperamylasemia. Further, based on the results of the present study, the salivary gland as the organ of origin and the permeability of its cell membranes are suggested as the mechanism for traumatic hyperamylasemia.